Goldsboro, NC Fishing: A Historically Rich Downtown Community

Goldsboro is a city in North Carolina with rich and excellent waters. Read here to learn more about fishing in this city.

Goldsboro, NC Fishing: A Historically Rich Downtown Community
Goldsboro, NC Fishing: A Historically Rich Downtown Community
Team Guidesly

November 15, 2022, 7 min read

Updated on November 11, 2022

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North Carolina is a famous destination for anglers because of its amazing waters and the presence of many fish species. No matter what city you wish to visit, you can find your favorite freshwater and saltwater fish species in its many beaches, lakes, rivers, and streams, making your whole fishing trip unforgettable. 

In Goldsboro, the city seat of Wayne County and one of North Carolina's growing communities, ample water bodies await both local and tourist anglers. This city, situated in the middle of Raleigh and Neuse River, was named after the chief engineer of Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, Matthew T. Goldsborough. The railroad construction played a vital role in the 1940s, and soon, the development of the railroad began to make it suitable for trading and shipping farm products. 

Aside from its rich and excellent waters, another thing that helps boost the city's tourism is its captivating history. Many stories about the Civil war, Tuscarora Indians, steamboats, revolutionary battles, and railroads played an essential role during that era. To this day, Goldsboro is known as the home of the Air force unit 4th fighter wing and the Air Reserve Component 916th refueling wing in the Seymour John Air Force Base. This city is an exciting place to visit, so bring your family and friends with you!

Goldsboro Fishing 

family fishing, river, sunset

Fishing is an all-year activity in North Carolina. You can still enjoy fishing along the state's excellent waters, whether a beginner or a pro. In Goldsboro, you can visit enough fishing destinations, such as the Little River and Neuse River. 

Little River is the primary water supply of Dirham City, which is why they limit the number of recreational activities you can do here to protect its waters. It is a tributary that flows into the Neuse River and is abundant with fish species, including redear sunfish, largemouth bass, redbreast, chain pickerel, green sunfish, American yellow perch, and American shad

Bank fishing is the most used fishing technique here in Little River. However, a valid North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission fishing license is needed before you begin your fishing trip. You can visit this spot from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm from Friday to Monday. Make sure to follow the rules and regulations to avoid problems during your trip. 

The next one is the Neuse River which many know as the longest River in North Carolina that rises in the state's Piedmont Region and empties into Pamlico South below New Bern. The current slows down drastically in this spot, making it possible for species you can only catch in the ocean also to be available for fishing in the River. 

The most commonly caught species in this River are the striped bass, black drum, redfish, and speckled trout. You can explore the waters and find these species via boat, where your captain can bring you to a great spot. Still, note that the River, although broad and not that deep, might be unfriendly for small boats because of the breezy winds and choppy waters. 

If a half-day trip is enough to catch the primary inshore fish species mentioned above, a whole-day trip is a must when you are after bigger fish like cobia, Spanish mackerel, little tunny, and Northern kingfish. These species live near the Atlantic beach, so expect that the trip to the area will be time-consuming. You can use fishing techniques such as jigging, bottom fishing, trolling, or spinning, depending on the fish species you are aiming for. 

There are many ways to enjoy your fishing trip. But having an experienced charter captain by your side will surely give you a memorable fishing adventure. Keep Castin' Charters by the trusted Captain Ashley will help you reel in some big catches of the most prized fish species in the area.

Another excellent fishing charter is the Reel Knotty Fishing Charter, owned and operated by the licensed and pro tournament angler Captain Travis Speight. If you wish to catch your first game fish, book your fishing trip with them and experience catching a king mackerel, wahoo, Spanish mackerel, cobia, and Atlantic sailfish

Unreel Fishing Charter, led by Captain Addison, and On Deck Fishing Charter, by Daniel Griffee, will also bring you to North Carolina's abundant waters and catch your favorite fish species, including sheepshead, black drum, redfish, bluefish, striped bass, and cobia. 

You can choose whether inshore, nearshore, or offshore fishing, North Carolina has enough species and destinations. So if you want to experience some wholesome angling action, book your fishing trip here in Goldsboro.

 

Top 10 Fish Species in Goldsboro, NC 

The top 10 fish species to catch in Goldsboro, NC, are largemouth bass, striped bass, black drum, king mackerel, spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, brown trout, chain pickerel, and yellow perch

Seasonal Fishing 

North Carolina has very productive fishing. There are saltwater fish species that you can catch for the whole year, just like king mackerel and Spanish mackerel. These species are the most available and commonly seen species in the state, so you can still catch them even with the change of seasons. The trick you should know regarding these species is to understand where they are when they begin to move as the seasons change. By then, you can easily land a good catch. 

The months of June to October are the best ones for targeting redfish. The summer and early fall seasons are when redfish are active all over the coastal waters, whether on the bays, flats, sounds or even in the surf. You can catch a red drum that weighs 50 pounds or more. Come the winter season and fishing are abundant around the areas in offshore reefs and wrecks. 

Although king mackerel and Spanish mackerel are available for the whole year, there is still a peak season for these species. The best months to fish for king mackerel are from April to November. These months make it easy for you to find numerous kingfish on the surf and coastal waters, and it is an excellent opportunity to reel in some trophy fish that weigh about 20 to 50 pounds. 

The best time to fish for Spanish mackerel is in May. They stick on nearshore waters but often go inshore following their food. You can catch an average of 1 to 3 pounds of fish through boat or pier fishing. This species is perfect for beginners and even kids. 

Visit the Traditional American City of Goldsboro

Situated on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, Goldsboro is full of meaningful history that helped shape the city today. It is rich with cultural heritage and exciting tourist attractions that people of all ages can enjoy. You can visit the essential landmarks, excellent facilities, and natural parks and experience the city's welcoming and hospitable people. Bring your family and friends with you if you ever decide to pay a visit. 

Here are some of the most popular destinations in Goldsboro, NC:

1. Go Kayaking at Neuse River 

You can do many activities in the Neuse River, one of which is kayaking. There are plenty of outdoor outfitters that offer recreational equipment you can use, such as paddles, vests, and kayaks. 

As you are ready to go on the length of the River through kayaking, you'll pass over shallow rapids and thick canopies of trees, but this experience will surely be worth it. You may even spot wildlife as you go along.

2. Have a Glimpse of the Past at Wayne County Museum 

This museum is a must-visit place, especially for history buffs. It contains a lot of preserved collections, artifacts, and stories from the Civil war, World War II, and other historical events that took place during that era. 

To further understand various topics about the past, the museum even provides educational entertainment for tourists with historical reenactments, academic conferences, cultural activities, and folk band concerts. 

3. Commemorate the American Civil War at Goldsboro Battlefield Bridge

The American Civil War was a nightmare for those who experienced it. And to be able to commemorate and revisit the places where the battles happened is essential because it enables people to value what they have and not take anything for granted. 

This Goldsboro Battlefield Bridge is one of the places where the battles happened. You'll get to retrace the steps of the 15,000 soldiers who fought in the war in 1862. There are stone monuments and landmarks in some spots where a significant event occurred. There are also live reenactments of some scenes from the war, where actors have a complete set of props, such as guns and horses.

Fish in Goldsboro and beyond.